Kent student transforms apartment into clothing drive providing free gender-affirming apparel

Erin Sullivan, Reporter|June 30, 2023

Erin Sullivan

The “Out of the Closet” clothing drive was held June 30 from noon to 6 p.m.

After having a conversation with his friend about the struggle to purchase affordable gender-affirming clothes, senior environmental studies student Cassius Moran jumped into action.

Senior environmental studies student Cassius Moran transformed his Kent apartment into a no-cost gender-affirming clothing drive June 30. (Erin Sullivan)

Moran had the idea of transforming his Kent apartment into a clothing donation hot spot. 

“One of my friends who is a trans woman was talking to me about how she does not have the means to dress in a way that reflects who she is,” Moran said. “Clothes are really expensive, and if you’re living paycheck to paycheck there’s no room to be yourself which takes up a huge quality of everyday life.” 

On Instagram, Moran advertised his “Out of the Closet” clothing drive where he posted information about donations. 

“At first, I started reaching out to different people to get clothes, and then I realized the clothes are going to need to go on tables and some of the clothes are going to need to go on hangers and so forth,” Moran said. 

The goal was to utilize space in Moran’s living room but due to an abundance of donations of hangers, folding tables and clothes, the pop-up drive took up Moran’s whole entire apartment.

Luckily, this change of plans was not an issue because his apartment was already being emptied due to his lease ending soon. 

Aside from Moran’s goal for people to receive gender-affirming clothing for free, Moran will also be accepting donations for his friend Zeke’s gender-affirming surgery. 

Shoppers had the opportunity to look through clothes, shoes and accessories at the free clothing drive located at 701 East Main St. (Erin Sullivan)

A portion of leftover clothes will go to Kent State’s Career Closet at the women’s center on campus and the rest will be sold to Plato’s Closet and Depop – all money earned from the donations will go towards Zeke’s gender-affirming surgery. 

“This was made so much easier by my loving circle of friends,” Moran said. “It gives me a very great sense of hope that people care… I think we need to be doing anything we can to make sure everybody’s living as good a life as possible.” 

The clothing drive ends June 30, but Moran said he is open to the possibility of organizing another clothing drive in the future. 

Erin Sullivan is a reporter. Contact her at [email protected].